Ag lending, real estate experts say we’re navigating from the peak.

Experts in agricultural lending and real estate advise Iowa farmers to prepare for continued production headwinds in 2024 and beyond that will include tighter margins, reduced liquidity, challenging cash flows and continued high interest rates.

Speaking to approximately 250 participants at the 2024 Iowa Farm Bureau Economic Summit earlier this month, Jim Knuth, senior vice president of lending at Farm Credit Services of America; Kent Stensland, chief credit officer with Bank Midwest; and Travis Smock, realtor and land agent with Peoples Company; agreed that farmers should focus on cash flow, working capital and liquidity to navigate leaner times.

“It’s time for ...